Transfer Centre

Sean Dyche coy on Joey Barton future

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 16 December 2016

Burnley boss Sean Dyche refuses to confirm whether his club will be offering a contract to Joey Barton, who continues to train at Turf Moor.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has refused to confirm whether his club will be offering a contract to Joey Barton.

The controversial midfielder helped Burnley gain promotion to the Premier League last season, but rejected the club's offer of a new contract to make the move to Scottish giants Rangers.

Barton departed Rangers just six months into his two-year deal following a training-ground bust-up with teammate Andy Halliday, however, and has since returned to Burnley in a bid to keep fit.

It had been thought that Dyche wanted to tie the 34-year-old to a short-term contract, but the English manager remained coy when questioned on the midfielder's future.

"He's training with the sports scientists, the same as he was last week," Dyche told reporters. "Because amongst many players I've worked with in my career when they've asked if they could possibly get help, whether that's a phone call or physical help, as in coming to the training, whether it is aftercare where some of the players ask about coaching and whether we can come watch some sessions, speak to the staff.

"I've never had a grudge against any player I've ever worked with and hopefully I've helped a few and if they require my help I'd love to help them. He's just another one of them, it's you [reporters] who make a story beyond that.

"I just think it is a situation that has grown out of necessity for a player who has wanted to come and work and get fit and he knows here he can do that. I'm not suggesting he can't somewhere else but he wanted to do it here and we said yes, of course, come in."

A number of Championship clubs have also been linked with a move for the former Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and Marseille midfielder.